Folding table



Jan. 8 1929. 1,698,420

a. F. WILLETT FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 31,1926 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 IIIHIVIIIIQIIIIIIA IN VEN 70R.

I GE W/LLET7'.

Arramvsk Jan; 8, 1929.

G. 'F. WILLETT FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 51, 1926 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVE/V7'0R. gr. W/LLETT 'ATTORNEM to the table top. 4.0

' Patented Jan. 8, 19290 GEORGE I. WILLETT, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

FOLDING TABLE.

- Application filed Decembor31,1926. s riaino. 1582160.

This invention relates to folding tables and more particularlykto that type of table commonly known as a card table in which the legs may be folded against the table top. Tables of this type are necessarily of a very li ht construction so that they can be folde into a compact form and easily handled. In some instances the table legs are independently movable and each is moved separately into its extended and folded positions. In other forms of table the several legs are connected one to theother so that they will be moved simultaneously into their extended or folded positions. In both forms of the table difliculty hasbeen experienced in so mounting the legs on the table top and bracing the same as to rigidly hold the legs in their extended positions and prevent the table from wobbling. In those tables in which the legs are connected together for simultaneous movement further difficulty has been experienced in. providing actuating means which would be elficient in operation and of a strong durable character without being heavy and cumbersome or expensive of construction.

One object of the invention is to rovide) such a table with a very simple device or connecting the several legs one to the other, which will be of a strong durable character and of a light comp-act construction.

A further object of the invention is'to provide in connection with such an actuating device means for rigidly securing the legs in their extended posltions.

A further ob ect of the invention is to provide such a table with strong rigid pivotal support for the legs of such a character that quickly and easily attached the legs may be Other objects'of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail. 1 In the accompan ing drawings Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view ot a table embod "ng my invention showing the legs in their olded posi tions; Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of the table showing the legs in their extended positions; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the table showing the eg in its extended position; Fig. 5 is. a detail sectional view showing the means for mount- I ing the leg on the table top; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the lock and the means for releasing the same; Fi 7 is a detail view ofthemeans for attaching t e connecting bars with the actuating member; and Fig.8 is a thereof a depending flang 3, each leg being mounted on an axis extending parallel with one of the flanges 2 so that the leg ma be folded against the table top within an substantially parallel to an adjacent flange 2. The legs may be mounted on the table top in any suitable manner but preferably each leg and its supporting structure is first assembled as a unit and this unit then secured to the table top.- As here shown each leg is carried by a pin 4 which is sup ported at one end by a bracket 5 mounted on one of the flanges 2 of the table top and has its other end mounted in a socket 6 in an adJacent flange 2. The bracket "5 comprises an apertured portion to receive the end of the pin and an attaching portion bent laterally, as shown at 7 5 and extending beyond the inner end of the in. The pin has its inner end reduced in diameter, as shown at 4 to receive the apertured end of a brace bar 8, the other end of which is secured to the le 3 at a point The pin 4 has spaced from the top thereof. a second reduced portion 4' to enter the apertured bracket. The endof the pin extends slightly'beyond the bracket so that it may be upset or riveted to retain the bracket on the reduced end portion therof. The bracket being confined between the upset end of the pin and the intermediate reduced portion 4v it will be apparent that it may be tightly riveted on the in without bindin the brace 8. In assemblmg the leg unit the leg and brace bar are first mounted on the respective ends of the pin and the bracket secured to the pin. The outer end of the pin is then inserted in the socket 6 and. the bracket secured to the adjacent flange 2 in any suitable manner, as. by means of screws 9. The arrangement of the attaching portion of the bracket is such that these screws may be easily inserted after the unit is in position. If desired, the outer end portion of the pin, which extends through the le may also be of reduced diameter and was ers 10 interposed between the leg and thebody portion of the pin and the flange in which the socket 6 is formed. It will be apparent that the leg unit may be very quickly and easily assembled and then attached to the table top, thereby greatly facilitating the assembly of the table. The several legs are connected one to the other in such a mannerthat the movement of 5 any one of the legs in either direction will cause a similar movement to be imparted to all the other legs, thus by grasping one leg and moving it to its extended position all the legs will be caused to move in unison to their extended positions. Preferably this is accomplished by mounting beneath the table top an actuating device which is capable of rotatory movement in a, plane substantially parallel with the' table top. This actuating member is supported in a series of guides spaced from the axis thereof and of such a character as to permit of the freerotatory,

movement-of the actuatmgihember, thus distributing the strains to which that member is subjected between a number of guides or supporting members and avoiding the objection able features which are present when an actuating device is mounted. on a single pivot at its center, which usually results in the pivot becoming loose and thus destroying the operative connection between the legs. This actuatingmember maybe of any suitable character and is here shown as an annular member 12 mounted for rotatory movement on the underside of the table top. This annular member may take various forms but, in the present instan ce, it is shown as a fiat annular bar or ring arranged edgewise with-relation to the table top, and shdably mounted in a'series of guides 13 which are rigidly secured to the table top. In

, guide comprises a substantially rigidly secured at its upper end to the table top and .of such a size as to receive and slid to ably support the annular actuating member. If desired a Washer 14 may be mounted about the upper portion of the clip so-a's to lie between the upper portion of the ring and the I table top. Each leg is connected with the actuating member by means of a connecting member 'or bar 15 which is pivotally connected with the le at a point spaced from .the axis thereof an in the present instance,

' is mounted on the screw 16 b'y means ofwhich the brace bar 8 is secured tothe'leg. The other end of the connecting bar is so attached to the actuating member that the movement of the leg will .move the actuating member about its axis, that is, cause it to shde in the several guides 13. Preferablythe actuating member or ring 12 is provided with a serles of outwardly extending radial studs 17, there being one of these studs for each leg, and the adjacent end of each connectingbar is apertured to receive one of these-studs. The vconnection between the bar and the stud is a loose one so that the stud may bemoved into dilferent positions, by the movement 'of the actuating member about its axis, without disat torting the bar or causing the same to bindon the present construction each U-shaped clip the actuating member. In the present instance, the stud is provided with a head 19 and a s ring 20 is mounted on the stud between tlie end of the bar and the actuating member to, ove the bar outwardly. toward the head. i a v Means are provided for locking the actuating member against reverse movement when the legs are in theirextend-ed positions and thus causing the legs to be held rigidly in their extended positions. In the present device, a stud 21 is rigidly secured to the inner face'of one of the flanges 2 and an apertured resilient arm 22 is secured at one end to the outer surface of the annular; actuating member and so arranged that as the actuating member rotates to move the legs to their extended positions thearin 22 will engage and ride over the stud 21 until the aperture therein is brought into line with the stud, when Y 1 the arm will spring outwardly and embrace in their extended positions and locking the same against movement in either direction. When the legs are to be folded the arm 22 is pressed inwardly to disconnect the same fromthe-stud 21 and thus permit the reverse move ment of the actuating member. As here shown, the free end 23 of the locking arm constitutes a finger piece by means of which the arm may be manipulated to release it from E the stud.

The'tops of. tablesof this kind are usually made of light material which has a tendency to warp or buckle and in order to reinforce the table to so as to prevent this warping or buckling I ave secured to theunderside of the table top two'intersecting brace bars 24 which are rigidly secured to the table top preferably by nailing and'gluing, The bars are of a length greater than the diameter of the annular actuating member and each bar s provided-at each end with a transverse recess or guideway 25 to-receive the actuating member. In the present instance, the clips 13 extendinto the recessesi'n the bars and form metallic linings fornthe same. It will be obvious, however, that if the bar is rigidly 125 secured to the table top-it is unnecessary for e the metallic lining to be also secured to the table top and the recessed ends of the bars may constitute the guides for the annular actuating member. The number of guides employed depends in a considerable measure may. occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention,

I. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. In a table, a table"top, legs pivotally mounted on said table top, an annular member rotatably mounted beneath said tabletop,

means spaced from the axis of said annular .member to rotatably support the same and mounted on said means for connecting said annular member with the several legs to cause said legs to move in unison. r i

2. In a table a table top, legs pivotally mounted on said table top, an annular member rotatably mounted beneath said table top, means spaced from the axis of saidannular member to rotatably support the same and connecting bars for separately connecting the ranged to receive said stud when said legs are p I respective legs with said annular member. 3.. In a table, a table top, legs pivotally mounted on said table top, an annular member rotatably mounted beneath said table top, means spaced from the axis of said annular -member to rotatably support the same, studs carried by said annular member, and se arate bars connecting the respective legs wit said stu s.

4. In a table, a table top, legs pivotally mounted on said table-top, an annular member rotatably mounted beneath'saidtable top,

means spaced from the axis of said annular member to rotatably support the same, studs carried b said annular member, and a plu rality of ars each pivotally connected at one end with oneof said legs and havin its other I end mounted on one of said studs or movement lengthwise of said stud.

w 5. In a table a table top, legs pivotally mounted on sai table top, anannular member rotatably mounted beneath said table top,

1 studs carried by said annular member, and a plurality of barseach pivotally connected at one end with one of said legs and having at its other end an opening to receive one of said studs and loosely connect said bar therewith, said opening being of such a diameter with relation to said stud that when said bar extends at an acute angle to said stud the edges of said opening will gri the stud.

6. In a table, a table top, egs pivotally mounted on said table top, an annular member rotatably mountedbeneath said table top, studs carried by said annular member, a plurality of bars each pivotally connected at one end with one of said legs and having at its other end an -o ening to receive one of said studs and loose y connect said bar therewith,

said opening being of such a diameter with I relation to said stud that when said bar ,ex-

tends at an acute angle to said stud the edges of: said opening will grip the stud, and a spring acting on said bar to press the same toward the outer end of said stud.

for connecting said annular member with the:

several legs to cause said legs to move in unison, and means for locking said annular member in a position to hold said legs in their extended positions. i

8. In a table atable top, legs pivotally table top, an annular mem ber rotatably mounted beneath said table top, means spaced from the axis of said annular member to rotatably'support the same, means for connecting said annular member with the several legs to cause said legs to move in unison. a stud carried by said table top, anda yieldable locking member carried by said annular member and having an opening armounted beneath said ta 1e top, an actuating member mounted insaid guides for rotatoi'y movement in a plane substantially parallel with said table top and supported solely by said uides, operative connections between said tive legs, and coo crating locking mem ers carried by said table top and sai actuating member respectively, one of said locking members being yieldable to permit it to spring into lockin engagement with the other locking mem er when said legs have been moved to their extended ositions.

10. In a table, a table top, e s pivotally mounted on said tabletop, a circu ar series of guides secured to the lower side of said table .top, a rigid ring slidably mounted in said guides, and o erative connections between said rmg and t e respective legs.

actuating member and the res ec- 11. In a table, a table top, legs pivotallymounted on said table top, a clrcular series of ides secured to the lower side of said tabi top, a rigid ring slidably mounted in said guides, a plurality of studs carried by said" ring, and bars pivotally mounted ,on the respective studs and connected with said legs.

12. In a table, a tabletop, legs pivotally mounted on said table top,.a series of guides mounted beneath said table top, an actuating member mounted in said guides for rotatory movement in a plane substantially parallel with said table top, and supported solely by said guides, and operative connections be-' tween said actuating member and the respective legs.

13. Ina table a table top, legs pivotally" allel with said table top, guides mounted at points remote from the axis of said actuating member and constitutin the sole support for said actuating mem er, and operative connections between said actuating member and the respective legs.

14. In a table, a table top, legs pivotally I mounted on said table top, a circular series of guides secured to the lower side of said table top, an actuating member mounted in said guides for rotatory movement in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said table top, and operativefconnections between said actuating member and the respective legs. r

15. In a table, a table top, legs pivotally mounted on said table top, reinforcing bars rigidly secured to the underside of said table top and each having recesses formed in that side thereof adjacent to said table top, an actuating member rotatably mounted in sai recesses, and operative connections between said actuating member and said legs.

"16., In a table, a table top, legs pivotally mounted on said table top, reinforcing bars rigidly secured to thelower surface of said table top and each having a series of guideways, the several guideways being arranged in a circle, a metallic ring mounted in said guideways, and operative connections between said ring and the several legs.

- hereto.

17. In a table, the combination with a table top having flanges depending from the edges thereof, of a leg, a brace bar secured to said leg and having its upper end spaced therefrom, a pin extending through said leg and the upper end of said brace bar, one of said flanges having a. socket to receive one end of said pin, a bracket having an aperture to said leg and provided with an aperture in line with the aperture in said leg, a pin having its end portions reduced, one of the reduced end portions of said pin bein adapted to extend through and beyond said leg and the other reduced end of said pin being adapt- 1 ed to extend through said brace and the apertured ear of said bracket, whereby said parts to I may be assembled as a unit independently of said table top, a part carried by said table top and having a socket to receive the first mentioned end of said pin, and means for rigidly securing said-bracket to said table top after said pin has been inserted in said socket.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature GEORGE WILLE-TT; 

